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Publisher's Summary

A collection of five suspenseful gems by master storyteller Frederick Forsyth, best-selling author of The Day of the Jackal and The Odessa File. Justice does not always come easily, and it comes in many guises. On the seedier side of London, a shopkeeper witnesses a brutal beating in The Veteran. In a better neighborhood, a famous London auction house is scammed in The Art of the Matter. And there's more. The other stories venture to a persecution in 16th century Sienna, a mid-flight drug smuggling heist, and the lone survivor of Custer's Last Stand. The voices of narrators Patrick MacNee, Bruce Boxleitner, and Christopher Casanove truly compliments the author's genius. Mixing together the elements of great suspense - revenge, mystery, murder and deception - this collection is Forsyth at his best.

What the Critics Say

"The five stories in this book...deserve to be classics themselves. Combining sharp detail, fully realized characters, and clever last minute twists, these small gems are polished to perfection.... Forsyth has always been a masterful plotter, with a special affection for using elements that appear to come from out of left field but somehow work just perfectly. Fans of his novels will be utterly thrilled by this collection. Readers unfamiliar with his writings couldn't find a better introduction. Revenge, mystery, murder, deception - all the main themes of Forsyth's best novels are represented here in stories that showcase the author's ability to capture character and generate suspense in remarkably few words." (Booklist)

"A good read. What is surprising is the thematic and geographical range of these pieces, all narrated in a solid realist style with sharply observed detail and engrossing, sometimes surprising plots. Always suspenseful, the stories take us into disparate worlds." (Library Journal)

"Lucid, vivid and delightfully readable, Forsyth is a master word-spinner and a master of meticulous detail." (The Los Angeles Times)

Patrick Macnee is a good actor but his reading for Audible is unbearable. He puts pauses in the wrong place and emphasis on incorrect syllables. He adds extravagant emotional content where clearly none was intended. I will not buy another audible book with him as the reader. unfortunately the audible table of contents does not note where one story ends and another one begins. As a result there's no easy way to get through a story you don't like or a reader you don't like.

Would you listen to The Veteran: Five Heart-Stopping Stories again? Why?

Five stories unfold in very different ways. Kept me tuned in to the MP3 player and my wife to.

What other book might you compare The Veteran: Five Heart-Stopping Stories to, and why?

None of Frederick Forsyths as the stories are so different and as I do not usually listen or read short stories I can only say that its worth your time to try a read or listen. Oh the stories are not that short either !

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Variety of the narrators telling of the stories.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No not at all, this is a book thats perfect for holiday listening or even a bed time read. Great for sitting by the Pool or laying on the beach after an energetic swim/snorkel. Or if you happen to be in America turn off that dreadfull TV.

Any additional comments?

These stories are quite gripping definately worth while.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

clifford

11/5/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"great stories, well read with great endings"

a really.good set of stories. all very diffferent but all well read with good endings. not.predictable and hard to.put down. my best audible purchase.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Brian N. Dee

1/12/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Terrible"

The stories were drawn out and weak.The narration - I thought someone was having a joke with those accents- artificial laboured-the whole thing was terrible

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Colin M

10/13/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"A great way to pass the time in the car"

Would you consider the audio edition of The Veteran: Five Heart-Stopping Stories to be better than the print version?

Amusing and enjoyable stories with good twists in the tale and one would expect from Mr Forsyth. I also enjoyed the narration - all the 'actors' did a good job in telling the story without trying to be the performance as can be the case

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

mary

1/24/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Oh dear..."

Brilliant writing, as ever, by Forsyth but utterly ruined by Patrick McNee as narrator whose monotonal, dirge-like slurring guarantees a good night's sleep

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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